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    Are Draft N devices going to be compatible with the final N standards?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by BamAlmighty, Sep 21, 2008.

  1. BamAlmighty

    BamAlmighty Notebook Consultant

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    I just ordered an Intel 4965 card to upgrade my Gateway to Draft N, but I now wonder if it will be compatible with the final 802.11N standard when it is finalized next year?
     
    BamAlmighty, Sep 21, 2008
    #1
  2. N00d13s

    N00d13s is too legit to quit!

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    from what i understand it should be with just a firmware/driver update
     
    N00d13s, Sep 21, 2008
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  3. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    ^^ I would not bet on the firmware update since it is not being finalised

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Sep 21, 2008
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  4. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Thought it was only routers that was N draft.
     
    flipfire, Sep 21, 2008
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  5. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    ^^ Wireless devices - router, card - have been working on N standard for a long time. Most (all) current cards, and some routers, are being labelled "pre-N", manufacturers jumping the gun for sales and hoping that a firmware update will make the devices "N standard" when it is finalised

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Sep 21, 2008
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  6. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    AFAIK, the hardware is done, but there are tweaks being worked in the firmware. Most 802.11n products available today should be fully compatible with the finalized standard. YMMV.
     
    kegobeer, Sep 21, 2008
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  7. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    This is a loaded question. It all depends on if the mfg wants it to or to force you to buy more hardware. It's a general consences that all hardware that ships with the v2 draft will be able to be upgraded. Early hardware may be a different story. Lets look at the Linksys 150, they discontinued it and released the 160. Why who know they may have found an underlying design flaw that will be impacted once the spec is final. If we look at 11g history, not all worked at acceptable levels when it was finalized. And MFG have yet to have 100% compatiabilty with each other. Now the <130mbps should be compaitable with all (spec), anything above that is going to be a crap shoot. If I recall this is the area where mfg can do their own things (for now). This is the hold up on the spec. If it's a client card there should be no problem since it uses the pc resources. Now for routers that a different story. Personally I do not buy hardware that is not speced.
     
    blue68f100, Sep 22, 2008
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